Delivery mechanism for folding and other machine.



PATENTED SEPT. 4, 1906.

C. A. STURTEVANT. DELIVERY MECHANISM FOR FOLDING AND OTHER MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED J'ULY28,1906.

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APPLICATION FILED JULYZ8,1905.

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PATENTBD SEPT. 4, 1906.

C. A. STURTBVANT. DELIVERY MECHANISM FOR FOLDING AND OTHER MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED JULYZB 1905.

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CHARLES A. STURTEVANT, OF PLA INFlELD, NEW JERSEY, ASSlGNOR TO E. C. FULLER COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

DELIVERY MECHANISM FOR FOLDING AND OTHER MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 4, 1906.

Application filed July 28. 1905- Serial No. 271,609.

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Be it known that I, CnARLEs A. STURTE- j VANT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Plainfield, in the county of Union and 5 State of New Jersey, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Delivery Mechanism for Folding and other Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a delivery mech- IO anism which is more particularly designed for use in folding-machines, but which may also be used in connection with other machines.

hen the final fold of the sheets is pro- 1 5 duced by a folding device located in the cen tral part of a foldingmachine and the signatures are delivered directly into a stackingl)OX beneath the same, it is inconvenient for the operator to remove the pile of signatures from the box.

The object of this invention is to provide a delivery mechanism for the folded sheets or signatures in a machine of this character which permits of placing the stacking-box at the side of the machine, where the same is accessible by the attendant and enables the pile of signatures to be easily removed.

In the accompanying drawings, consisting of three sheets, Figure 1 is a vertical transverse section of a folding-machine equipped with my improved delivery mechanism. Figs. 2 and 3 are horizontal sections in lines 2 2 and 3 3, Fig. 1, respectively. Figs. 4 and 5 are detached views showing different means for causing the receiving parts of the carryingbelts to move toward and from each other in unison. Figs. 6 and 7 are fragmentary longitudinal sections in lines 6 6 and 7 7, Fig. 1, respectively. Figs. 8 and 9 are similar views, on an enlarged scale, in lines 8 8 and 9 9, Fig. 1, respectively.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

The folding-machine shown in the drawings and provided with my improved delivery mechanism consists, essentially, of a main frame A, a pair of first folding-rollers I) I), a pair of second folding-rollers c 0, arranged at right angles to the first, a pair of third foldinga'ollers (Z (Z, arranged at right angles to the second and parallel to the first, a pair of fourth folding-rollers a e, arranged parallel to the third rollers, and a pair of l fourth folding-1ollersff, arranged in an inclined position between the third and fourth i rollers dd and e e and at right angles thereto. B, C, D, E, and F represent the foldingblades cooperating with the abovemeni tioned rollers, respectively. The sheets are r carried to the first rollers by tapes I), from l the first to the second rollers by tapes 0, from the second to the third rollers by tapes (1, and from the third rollers by tapes e either over the fourth rollers parallel to the second or to the fourth rollers parallel to the third rollers, depending upon the character of the fold which it is desired to produce in the sheets. WVhen the sheets are to receive a fourth fold parallel to the second, the same are arrested by a front stop or gage 9 while being carried forward by the tapes 6 when they are in the proper position over the fourth rollers ff to be moved between the same by the bladeF but when the sheets are to receive a fourth fold parallel to the third the gage g is moved out of the path of the sheets, permitting the same to continue their forward movement under the carrying action of the tapes 6 until the same reach the front gage or stop h, which arrests the sheets in position to be moved by the blade E between the fourth rollers e e.

The folded sheets issuing from the under side of the folding-rollers e 6 drop into a horizontal stacking-box I in front of its packer 'i, whereby the folded sheets or signatures are successively stacked in said boX.

The fourth rollers e e and the companion stacking-box I are suflioiently near to the outer side of the machine to enable the operator to reach all parts of the box conveniently for emptying the same when necessary and for other purposes.

The fourth rollers f f are arranged in the central part of the machine and discharge the completely-folded sheet downwardly. Inasmuch as this part of the machine is not easily accessible to the attendant, means for stacking the folded sheets issuing from the rollers f f are placed adjacent to the outer side of the machine, where the same is easy of access to the attendant. A delivery mechanism is provided for transferring the sheets from the rollers ff to said stacking device. This stacking and delivery mechanism is con structed as follows:

J represents the bottom and J the side walls of a main guideway which is arranged lengthwise of the fourth rollers ff and has its inner receiving end extending underneath said rollers, while its outer delivery end extends to the side of the machine opposite to that onwhich the stacking-box I is arranged. The guideway is preferably supported from the main frame by brackets is is, connecting with the bottom thereof. The inner ends of the side walls of the guideway are preferably somewhat reduced in height, while the outer ends thereof extend some distance beyond the bottom of the guideway, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Each folded sheet or signature upon issuing from the rollers f f is directed into the receiving end of the guideway by a chu e composed of two parallel plates Z, exten ing from the rollers f f to the guideway.

M M represent two carrying or conveyer belts whereby the folded sheets are carried edgewise and in a vertical position through the guideway from the receiving to the delivery end thereof. The belts have their flat faces arranged vertically and their operative portions opposing each other lengthwise in the guideway and movable from the inner to the outer ends thereof. Each of these carrying-belts passes with its receiving and delivery parts around receiving and delivery pulleys or rollers m m, the intermediate operative part thereof rests against the inner side of an intermediate roller or pulley m and the intermediate inoperative part thereof passes between said intermediate pulley and a slack-take-up roller or tightener-pulley m The receiving-pulleysm m are movable intermittently toward and from each other to permit of feeding the sheets between them and then propelling the same forwardly through the guideway. This movement of the receiving-rollers is preferably effected by mounting the same on two horizontally-swinging rockarms 7 n, which are mounted on upright rock-shafts N N, journaled in bearings on opposite sides of the receiving end of the guideway. The two rock-shafts are caused to turn in unison by intermeshing gear-segments n M, secured to the shafts below the guideway, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4. The same result may be obtained by providing the shafts N N with rock-arms n at, one of which carries a pin 7?, working in a slot at in the other arm, as shown in Fig. 5. Motion may be derived from any suitable source and transmitted to the rock-shafts by any suitable means. As shown in the drawings, this motion is transmitted from an upright rocking packer-shaft O by means of a connectingrod 0, which is connected at opposite ends with a rock-arm 0 on the packer-shaft and a similar arm 0 on the rock-shaft N.

In order to permit the receiving-rollers to bear yieldingly against the folded sheet between the carrying-belts, the supporting rockarm of one of the rece ving rollerssay that of the belt Mis mounted loosely on its rock-shaft N and is yieldingly moved forward by a spring n interposed between its shaft and the rock-arm n. The forward movement of the latter relatively to its shaft is limited by a stop-arm n secured to its shaft N. Upon moving the receiving-rollers away from each other the receiving parts of the belts are separated, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2, thereby permitting the folded sheet which at this time issues from the rollers f f to enter freely between the carrying-belts. After the folded sheet has been thus deposited between the belts the latter are closed against opposite sides of the sheet by the movement of the receiving-rollers toward each other, as shown by full lines in Fig. 2, thereby causing the belts to grip the sheet and feed the same forwardly through the guideway and discharge the same edgewise and in an upright position at the outer or I delivery end thereof.

In order to permit the delivery portions of the carrying-belts to adjust themselves to the thickness of the folded sheets or signatures and avoid clogging or straining of the parts, one of the delivery-rollers and one of the intermediate rollers are mounted by means of a fixed pivot p on the bottom of the guideway, while the companion of each of these rollers is pivoted by a shaft or pin p on a slide p which is capable of lateral movement in a guide-slot p in the bottom J and is yieldingly moved toward the path of the sheets by a spring p, as shown in Figs. 2, 8, and 9.

The side walls of the guideway are suitably recessed, as shown, to permit the carryingbelts and their supporting-pulleys to project into the space within the guideway for engaging the folded sheets and delivering the same.

Each of the slack takeup rollers m is mounted on a rock-arm Q, which turns loosely onthe pivot-pin of its companion intermediate roller and is yieldingly moved in the direction for pressing its take-up roller against the corresponding belt by means of a spring g, interposed between said arm and pivot-pin, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Although various means may be employed for driving the carrying-belts, that shown in Figs. 1 to 3 is preferred, and consists of a crossed belt R passing around a driving-pulley 1', mounted on a shaft 9" at the front end of the guideway, driven pulleys 7 r arranged on the lower ends of the pivots or shafts of the delivery-rollers m, and around an intermediate guide-roller 1 pivoted on an arm r which is mounted on the pivot of one of the fixed intermediate rollers or pulleys, as shown in Fig. 3.

After the folded sheet or signature clears the carrying-belt and the bottom of the IIO guideway its front or advancing edge strikes a stop or pin 8 which projects across the path of the signature, causing the same to drop from between the outer extremities of the guideway side walls into a stacking-box T. The stop 3 is made adjustable toward and from the outer end of the guideway to su t different sizes of signatures by means of a bar S, which carries the stop at its outer end, while its inner end is secured to the rear wall of the guideway by means of a clamping-bolt s, passing through a longitudinal slot 8 in the bar.

The stacking-box T is arranged horizontally along the outer sideof the machine at rightangles to the guideway. After the signature drops into the box T it is pushed forward in the same by a vertical packer or board U, which reciprocates lengthwise in said box. This movement may be imparted to the packer U in any suitable manner, but preferably, as shown in the drawings, by means of a longitudinally-movable slide-rod a, connected with the packer U and guided on the under side of the box T, an elbow-lever V, pivoted on the main frame and having one of its arms connected with the slide-rod u, and a connecting-rod o, connecting the other arm of the elbow-lever with a rockarm 1; on the packer-shaft O, as shown in Figs. 2 and 6.

The relative motion of the delivery mechanism and the packer is preferably so timed that the signature is delivered into the box T while the packer is in rear of the guideway, as shown in Fig. 6. After the signature has been thus deposited in the box the packer moves forward, so as to stack the signature against the pile therein, and then returns to its position in rear of the guideway preparatory to stacking the next signature.

In order to prevent the signatures from following back with the packer and thus obstructing the space in the box below the guideway, the sides of the box are provided with the usual pivoted detent-pawls to, which are held in position by springs to engage with the lower edges of the signature. The upper edge of the last signature is kept out of the path of the incoming signature by a detentpawl x. The latter hangs into the upper part of the path ofthe signatures in front of the guideway and is pivoted on the lower end of a vertical rod X in such a manner that it can move forwardly *ith the signature when engaged by the upper edge of the same, but its backward movement beyond a vertical pendent position isprevented, so as to hold the pile of signatures in place. The upper detent-pawl a; is thus arrested during its backward movement by cooperating stops or shoulders at, formed on the pawl, and its 'supporting-rod X, as shown in Fig. 6. For the purpose of enabling the upper detentpawl to be adjusted vertically to suit different sizes of signatures, the rod X is secured to the. front wall of the guideway, so as to be capable of vertical adjustment thereon, preferably by means of clips or jaws as engaging with said rod and bolts, or screws :0 connecting said clips with said wall of the guidewa iVhile setting or adjusting the machine in getting the same ready a. signature is liable to be fed out of time by the delivery mechanism. For the purpose of preventing such a signature from getting into the box T behind the packer and thus interfering with the operation of the machine, a horizontal guard or plate 2 is extended rearwardly from the upper end of the packer, as shown in Figs. 2 and 6. This guard is of such length that when the packer is moved forwardly it closes the space between the lower ends of the side walls of the guideway beyond the bottom thereof, thereby confining the signature in the guideway until the packer again moves rearwardly and clears the guideway, when the signature is permitted to drop into the box T in front of the packer. While thus moved forwardly the packer and its guard are enabled to pass the upper detent-pawl a: an d its supporting-rod by forming a slot 2 in thepacker and guard in line with said pawl and rod, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 6.

If desired, the delivery mechanism may be so timed that the signature is delivered while the packer is in its forward position, in which case the guard of the packer would come into play during every delivery and packing operation.

The guideway and the delivery mechanism preferably rise from the inner end to the outer end thereof, as shown in Fig. 1, to permit of placing the box T higher and enable the operator to remove the signatures therefrom more conveniently.

I claim as my in vention 1. A delivery mechanism for sheet-folding and other machines comprising two carryingbelts which have their l lat sides arranged vertically and opposing each other, and means for moving the re eiving parts of said belts horizontally toward and from each other to permit of feeding a sheet between the same and then cause the sheet to be gripped thereby, substantially as set forth.

2. A delivery mechanism for sheet-folding and other machines comprising two carrying belts which have the r flat sides arranged verti cally and opposing each other, receiving and delivery rollers supporting the receiving and delivery parts of said belts, and means for intermittently moving the receiving-rollers toward and from each other, substantially as set forth.

5. A delivery mechanism for sheet-folding and other machines comprising two opposing belts which receive the sheets between them, receiving and delivery pulleys supporting the receiving and delivering portions of said belts,

respectively, and means for intermittently moving said receiving-pulleys toward and from each other, comprising rock-arms supporting said receiving-pulleys and a connection between said arms operating to compel the same to turn in unison, substantially as set forth.

4. A delivery mechanism for sheet-folding and other machines comprising two opposing belts which receive the sheets between them, receiving and delivery pulleys supporting the receiving and delivery portions of said belt, respectively and means for intermittently moving said receiving-pulleys toward and from each other, comprising rock-arms supporting said receiving-pulleys, rock-shafts carrying said rock-arms, and intermeshing gear-segments secured to said rock-shafts, substantially as set forth.

5. A delivery mechanism for sheet-folding and other machines comprising two opposing belts which receive the sheets between them, receiving and delivery pulleys support ng the receiving and delivery portions of said belts, respectively and means for intermittently moving said receiving-pulleys toward and from each other, comprising rock-arms supporting said receiving-pulleys, an actuating device for said rock-arms, and a yielding connection between one of said arms and said actuating device, substantially as set forth.

6. A delivery mechanism for sheet-folding and other machines comprising two opposing belts which receive the sheets between them, receiving and delivery pulleys supporting the receiving and delivering portions of said belts,

respectively and means for intermittently moving said receiving-pulleys toward and from each other, comprising rock-arms supporting said receiving-pulleys, a pair of rockshafts, one of said rock-arms being rigidly connected with one of said rock-shafts. while the other rock-arm is loosely connected with the other rock-shaft, a spring operating to turn said loose rock-arm forward relatively to its shaft, and a stop for limiting the forward movement of said loose rock-arm on its shaft, substantially as set forth.

7. A delivery mechanismfor sheet-folding and other machines comprising two belts which have their flat carrying-faces arranged vertically and opposing each other, upright receiving and delivery pulleys supporting the receiving and delivery parts of said belts, upright intermediate pulleys arranged opposite each other and supporting the intermediate parts of said belts, and actuating means operating to move the receiving-pulleys intermittently toward and from each other, substantially as set forth.

8. A delivery mechanism for sheet-folding and other machines comprising two opposing belts which receive the sheets between them, receiving and delivery pulleys supporting the receiving and delivery parts of said belts, intermediate pulleys supporting the intermediate parts of said belts, fixed pivots for the delivery and intermediate pulleys of one of said belts, and laterally-movable pivots for the delivery and intermediate pulleys of the other belt, substantially as set forth.

, 9. A delivery mechanism for sheet-folding and other machines comprising two opposing belts which receive the sheets between them, receiving and delivery pulleys supporting the receiving and delivery parts of said belts, intermediate pulleys supporting the intermediate parts of said belts, fixed bearings for the pivots of the delivery and intermediate pulleys of one of said belts, laterally-movable bearings for the pivots of the delivery and intermediate pulleys of the other belt, and springs operating to yieldingly hold said movable bearings in their inner position, substantially as set forth.

10. A delivery mechanism for sheet-folding and other machines comprising two belts which have their flat carrying-faces arranged vertically and opposing each other, upright receiving and delivery pulleys supporting the receiving and delivery parts of said belts, upright intermediate pulleys arranged opposite each other and supporting the intermediate parts of said belts, actuating means operating to move the receiving-pulleys intermittently toward and from each other, and tightenerpulleys engaging with said belts between the intermediate and delivery-pulleys, substantially as set forth.

11. A delivery mechanism for sheet-folding and other mac'hines'comprising two opposing belts which receive the sheets between them, receiving and delivery pulleys supporting the receiving and delivery parts of said belts, intermediate pulleys supporting the intermediate parts of said belts, tightenerpulleys bearing against said belts between the intermediate and delivery pulleys, rock-arms supporting said tightener-pulleys and mounted loosely on the pivots of said intermediate pulleys, and sprin s operating to press said tightener-pulleys yieldin gly against said belts, substantially as set forth.

12. A delivery mechanism for sheet-folding and other machines comprising two opposing belts which receive'the sheets between them, receiving and delivery pulleys supporting the receiving and delivery parts of said belts, intermediate pulleys supporting the intermediate parts of said belts, a driving-pulley, driven pulleys connected with the pivots of the delivery-pulleys, a guide-pulley, and a crossed driving-belt passing around said driving, driven, and guide pulleys, substantially ing and other machines comprising a guide-- Way having a bottom and side walls, and two belts having their operative parts opposing each other and moving lengthwise through said guideway, substantially as set forth.

1%. A delivery mechanism for sheet-fold-.

- the delivery end of said guideway, and means for adjusting said stop in a direction length wise of the guideway, substantially as set forth.

16. A delivery mechanism for sheet-folding and other machines comprising a guideway, means for propelling the sheets through said guideway, a stop arranged at the outer end of said guideway, and an adjusting-bar supporting said stop and connected with said guideway by a bolt or screw passing through a slot in said bar, substantially as set forth.

17. A delivery mechanism for sheet-folding and other machines comprising a guideway, means for propelling sheets through said guideway, a stacking-box arranged below the delivery end of said guideway, a packer movable in said box and underneath said guideway, and a guard arranged horizontally at the upper end of said packer and operating to obstruct the path of the sheets in the forward position of the packer, substantially as set forth.

18. A delivery mechanism for sheetfold ing and other machines comprising a guide way, means for propelling sheets through said guideway, a stacking-box arranged be low the delivery end of said guideway, a packer movable in said box and underneath said guideway, a detent-pawl arranged to be engaged by the upper edge of the sheets while being moved forward in the stacking-box, a supporting-rod on which said pawl is pivoted, a stop constructed to arrest said pawl when the same reaches a pendent position during its backward movement, and a clamping device for adjustably securing said rod to said guideway, substantially as set forth.

19. A delivery mechanism for sheet-folding and other machines comprising a guideway, means for propelling the sheets through said guideway, a stacking-box arranged underneath the delivery end of said guideway, a packer arranged in said box, and a detentpawl operating to hold said sheets in position after being moved forward by the packer, said packer having a slot, whereby the same clears said detent-pawl, substantially as set forth.

20. A delivery mechanism for sheet-folding and other machines comprising a guideway, means for propelling the sheets through said guideway, a stacking-box arranged underneath the delivery end of said guideway, a packer arranged in said box, a detent-pawl operating to hold said sheets in position after being moved forward by the packer and a horizontal guard-plate arranged at the upper end of said packer and adapted to obstruct the path of sheets in the forward position of the packer, said packer and guard being slotted to permit them to clear said detent-pawl, substantially as set forth.

21. The combination with a folding-niachine having a pair of folding-rollers in. its central part, of a stacking-box arranged at the side of the machine and at right angles to said rollers, and a delivery mechanism constructed to carry the sheets from said rollers lengthwise thereof and deliver the same into said box transversely thereof, substantially as set forth.

22. The combination with a folding1nachine having a pair of folding-rollers in the central part thereof, of a stacking-box ar ranged at the side of said folding-machine, and a delivery mechanism for carrying the sheets from said rollers to said box comprising two opposing belts which rise from their receiving toward their delivery ends, substantially as set forth.

WVitness my hand this 26th day of July, 1905.

CHARLES A. STURTEVANT.

i/Vitnesses:

CHAS. H. LAMB, E. E. BUsn. 

